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Saskatchewan non-profit seeks funding to fight substance abuse, HIV spread

Global News Regina

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November 21, 2023

Saskatchewan non-profit seeks funding to fight substance abuse, HIV spread

The Persons Living with AIDS Network (PLWA) of Saskatchewan is seeking permanent funding from the federal and provincial governments to battle substance use in the community.

Cheryl Barton with the network said it was given over $6,000 of funding to extend its pilot program by one month.

The $125,000 two-year program was supposed to wrap up in February 2024 but has been extended to March.

Individuals received case management from support workers, participated in road to recovery groups and clean equipment supply to prevent the spread of HIV through needles.

“These are Indigenous people we are talking about,” Barton said. “They are the responsibility of the federal and provincial government when they are off reserve and they are not receiving the help that they need.”

She said the network has reached out to the Ministry of Health to add additional funding to their yearly service agreement.

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The PLWA is looking for funding that includes HIV prevention, linkage to care and moving people to undetectable status. According to Barton, that includes access to clean addictions and drug supplies.

She said they are waiting on a response.

“The work that we are doing is across systems of care. It’s not just about HIV, it is about trauma-informed care.”

Starla Pelletier is an Okemaw and Minowin worker at the Niiyanaan Pimatishihk Wellness Centre in Saskatoon working in patient recovery and peer navigation.

“I am like a human diary,” Pelletier said. “They come and unload and go from there. I learn about them and where they are coming from.”

She noted she is recovering from addiction herself.

“After getting clean and trying to find myself, this place fell in my lap basically. I like to say the angels did it.”

Pelletier said she wishes Saskatoon had more treatment and detox centres.

“We need so much more help than what we are getting. Quadruple it.”

She added that a majority of the members at the Niiyanaan Pimatishihk Wellness Centre are of Indigenous background.

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“It complicates things because we get treated differently,” Pelletier said. “I feel like we are looked down upon and frowned upon not only because we are Indigenous but also because we are HIV-positive. We are also drug addicts but that comes from generational hurts and traumas.

“I would love to say we are getting there just by little steps, but it’s just the constant battle dealing with homelessness, addictions and HIV so they have a lot on their shoulders.”

Pelletier said that longer-term programming is needed.

“There’s only so much we can do with the time we are given.”

The government of Canada announced $21 million in October for 52 community-led projects across the country.

Saskatchewan will receive $964,435 in total, including $6,631 for the Niiyanaan Pimatishihk Miyooayaan Pilot Project.

“We are tired,” Barton said. “We are not discouraged, although we do see some daily discouragement when we see things that are tough to see, but we do know that with long-term programming, we could turn this around.”

She said the Niiyanaan Pimatishihk Wellness Centre will never close its doors.

“No file is ever closed. People can come back whenever they need to for support.”

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Global News has reached out to the Ministry of Health for comment.

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Moe says school boards will be responsible for discipline if teachers don’t follow pronoun law

Global News Regina

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November 21, 2023

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Moe says school boards will be responsible for discipline if teachers don’t follow pronoun law

Dozens of Saskatchewan teachers have signed a petition against the province’s law which requires parental consent when a student wishes to go by a different name or pronoun in school.

But despite the pushback, Premier Scott Moe has no intention of rescinding the law.

“This is a policy about when a school will recognize a change in name or pronoun or even gender,” Moe said. “Those are decisions that the parent should be part of before a school ultimately is going to recognize any of those changes.”

Moe, however, is not sure what consequences could look like for teachers who choose to ignore the legislation.

Moe said now that the policy is law, it is up to the school divisions to make sure their employees are following it just as any other employer would be expected to enforce rules in their company.

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“I don’t know what those protocols are, and if they differ between school divisions, but that is an inquiry that we may make at some point, but I haven’t made it yet,” Moe said.

For opposition NDP leader Carla Beck, she believes the policy should be scrapped all together.

Beck questions why the province needed to hold an emergency legislature session and use the notwithstanding clause to introduce the law, when the government doesn’t have a clear answer on how it will be enforced and followed.

“This was an ill-thought-out bill that was done without consultation,” Beck said Tuesday. “Had they consulted, they would have understood that these issues and I don’t think we’ve seen all of them would come to light.”

Click to play video: 'Saskatchewan lays out ‘work ahead’ in throne speech concerning parental rights issues'

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Saskatchewan lays out ‘work ahead’ in throne speech concerning parental rights issues

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

‘No good way to enforce a bad law’: Retired teacher weighs in on Sask. pronoun policy

Global News Regina

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November 21, 2023

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‘No good way to enforce a bad law’: Retired teacher weighs in on Sask. pronoun policy

“We’ve been called pedos and groomers over and over and over again, which is ridiculous,” said Margi Corbett.

Corbett is a retired teacher who’s been working in the field for 30 years and is hoping for teachers to stop being targeted online as Saskatchewan’s pronoun policy gets implemented.

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Saskatchewan lays out ‘work ahead’ in throne speech concerning parental rights issues

Dozens of Saskatchewan teachers have signed a petition against the province’s law, which requires parental consent when a student wishes to go by a different name or pronouns in school.

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But despite the pushback, Premier Scott Moe has no intention of rescinding the law.

“There’s no good way to enforce a bad law,” Corbett said.

Moe said on Tuesday that it will be up to school divisions to make sure their employees are following the law, just as any other employer would be expected to enforce rules in their company.

Moe, however, is not sure what consequences could look like for teachers who choose to ignore the legislation.

“I don’t know what those protocols are, and if they differ between school divisions, but that is an inquiry that we may make at some point, but I haven’t made it yet,” Moe said.

“This is a policy about when a school will recognize a change in name or pronoun or even gender,” Moe said.

“Those are decisions that the parent should be part of before a school ultimately is going to recognize any of those changes.”

Corbett said it was interesting that Moe wanted school divisions to take charge of enforcing the policy even though nobody working in the education sector was consulted on it in the first place.

Moe has mentioned in the past that the people who have been consulted regarding the pronoun policy were parents and MLA’s.

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“It’s already damaging. It’s hurting our most vulnerable kids,” Corbett said.

Click to play video: 'Protestors rally around province against pronoun policy'

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Protestors rally around province against pronoun policy

She said this is creating some cognitive dissonance for teachers and that this policy goes against a teacher’s code of ethics.

Corbett said teachers have been thrown into this politicized situation with many not wanting to speak on the matter.

“And I don’t blame them.”

When asked how she sees this policy being enforced, she wondered if it even could.

“Realistically I don’t think it can be enforced. I don’t know how else to answer that question, I guess maybe a slap on the wrist?”

Global News tried to answer that same question by reaching out to several school boards across the province as well as the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA).

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Many didn’t respond, others refused to comment, and the SSBA noted that the matter was still technically before the courts.

Corbett said that this situation was both damaging to kids and teachers.

She said teachers and parents have been working together for the best possible outcome for the kids, and she wanted parents to at least try and regain respect for teachers.

“I really hope that there are parents out there who realize that teachers are not evil. Teachers are trying to do their best for students who need support.”

— with files from Andrew Benson

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Sask. NDP accuses MLA for raising Regina motel rates on social assistance client

Global News Regina

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November 21, 2023

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Sask. NDP accuses MLA for raising Regina motel rates on social assistance client

The Saskatchewan NDP is accusing a provincial MLA that he owns the Sunrise Motel in Regina and had increased rates for a social assistance client.

Regina resident Evelyn Harper was staying at the motel, which the Sask. NDP claims is owned by MLA Greg Grewal, after she was evicted from her government housing unit earlier this year.

The Saskatchewan NDP obtained receipts from the Ministry of Social Services that raises questions about mismanagement of public funds, the transparency of the Sask. Party government and possibly even the ethics of its individual employees.

During a press conference on Nov. 15, 2023, the Opposition social services critic said the public deserves answers.

“They demonstrate that the Sunrise Motel … significantly inflated their rates when the Ministry of Social Services began footing the bill,” said Meara Conway.

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“The price increased dramatically from Oct. 29th to Nov. 1st … the facts show that the only difference is that the Ministry of Social Services got involved and offered to foot the bill with taxpayer dollars.”

Harper was evicted from government housing on Oct. 27, 2023. With nowhere to go, she found a room at the Sunrise Motel where she paid $132 a night, plus a $200 damage deposit when she first checked in. Two days later, the rate increased to $168 a night and on Nov. 1 to 3, the rate increased again to $200 a night.

Conway said Harper’s situation was brought of the attention of the Minister of Social Services, Gene Makowsky.

In a statement, the province responded that the Sask. NDP are making serious and unfounded allegations based on the fact they don’t understand that Social Services doesn’t typically pay damage deposits.

“There is no standard rate for motel rooms. The price fluctuates based a number of factors including the type of room requested, demand and availability,” the statement read.

“Specific to this situation, all regular guests must provide a $200 damage deposit. However, Social Services does not typically pay damage deposits, which amounts in room charges being restated, appearing higher than when Social Services does not pay the cost.”

The province denies the Sask. NDP’s claims that MLA Grewal manages the Sunrise Motel and stated that Harper has been placed into stable housing and no longer requires accommodations at Sunrise Motel.

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Grewal was not available for a comment.

— with files from The Canadian Press

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Saskatchewan launches new program to expand Child Support Service

Global News Regina

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November 21, 2023

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Saskatchewan launches new program to expand Child Support Service

Parents going through a separation and a divorce will no longer have to go to family court to calculate child support.

The government of Saskatchewan is launching a new program to expand the Child Support Service aimed to help families by reducing children’s exposure to conflict.

According to justice minister and attorney-general Bronwyn Eyre, family court process can be expensive, time-consuming and complex, which could also cause additional stress to parents as well as children.

“This service aims to take away some of that financial burden and stress, allowing parents to focus on what really matters — their children,” Eyre said.

Legal director of Saskatchewan Legal Aid’s Regina city office, Tyne Hagey, has been in family law for the past eight years. She says parents disagree on the amount of child support and sometimes they need professional help with the calculation process.

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“Sometimes when parents disagree about child support its only about a few hundred dollars. This is because sometimes they have their own idea about how much the other parent is earning, and how that income should be valued, or sometimes they are just misinformed about the child support process and about how it’s calculated and works,” Hagey said.

“People often turn to professional help for calculating child support. So, services like the child support calculation service are going to help parents, you know, take their incomes, compare it and save that time and get it done right away when contested in court.”

This child support service expands on the recalculation service launched in 2018 to offer a faster way to update child support amounts for existing child support orders.

“Well, as I said, it’s been in place since 2018. Part of the legislation that was passed in 2018 was about bringing in that recalculation system. And there were a number of aspects in that legislation that touched on support and the workings of the support system,” Eyre said.

“And really from 2018 to now, a sense that we could expand this then to the calculation service right off the top. And I think there’s pretty broad consensus about the need to help people, from an access to justice perspective, get around some of that that conflict which we see in family law cases.”

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The recalculation portion of the service is funded by the Government of Saskatchewan to the tune of $348,000 per year. Now the program will also provide calculation services to establish child support amounts at the beginning of a separation.

The federal Department of Justice is providing financial support through the Canadian Family Justice Fund with the objective of improving access to the family justice system.

The government set up this pilot project to build financial stability for children. Parents applying for the child support decision comes at no cost. It can be done without paying legal fees, or filling out complex court forms.

Click to play video: 'Saskatchewan childcare providers react to $10-a-day child care program'

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Saskatchewan childcare providers react to $10-a-day child care program

Saskatchewan says Ottawa’s net-zero plan would cost province $40B, job losses

Global News Regina

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November 21, 2023

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Saskatchewan says Ottawa’s net-zero plan would cost province $40B, job losses

By The Staff

The Canadian Press

Posted November 21, 2023 12:49 pm

The Saskatchewan government says Ottawa’s target to have net-zero emissions by 2035 would cost the province billions of dollars.

Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for Saskatchewan’s electricity provider, says the province would have to spend $40 billion from now until 2035 to meet the standards.

Duncan also says electricity rates would more than double and hundreds of SaskPower employees could be without work.

Ottawa’s clean electricity standards would require all electricity to be from renewable sources, like wind or hydro, or be equipped with carbon capture technology.

Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has said he wants to work with the provinces and has disputed claims that the regulations would impose unfair costs or cause reliability problems.

Saskatchewan has instead proposed it meet net-zero targets by 2050.

&copy 2023 The Canadian Press

Sask. provincial rates of family and intimate partner violence remain the highest in Canada

Global News Regina

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November 21, 2023

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Sask. provincial rates of family and intimate partner violence remain the highest in Canada

Saskatchewan continues to have the highest provincial rates of family violence and intimate partner violence in the country, according to the most recent report from Statistics Canada, and the numbers aren’t close.

Out of the family violence incidents that were reported to police in 2022, Saskatchewan had 730 incidents per 100,000 people. The next highest was Manitoba with 585 incidents, with other provinces sitting in the 200-400 range.

Out of the intimate partner violence incidents that were reported to police in 2022, Saskatchewan had 732 incidents per 100,000 people. Manitoba scored second place with 633 incidents, and the other provinces again sat in the 200-400 range.

Click to play video: 'November is Family Violence Prevention Month'

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November is Family Violence Prevention Month

Statistics Canada said overall rates of family violence were over two times higher among women and girls and more than three times higher when it came to intimate partner violence.

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While the overall number of police-reported incidents remained unchanged between 2022 and 2021, it was noted in the report that both forms of violence have increased by 19 per cent since 2014.

The report also noted that family violence against children and youth across Canada increased by 38 per cent between 2014 and 2022, but saw a slight decrease between 2022 and the year prior.

“Younger victims are unique in that they may be unaware that they are being victimized, may not know how to seek help, may be unable to report their victimization and may be dependent on the perpetrator. Research has indicated that, while a similar proportion of girls and boys experience childhood victimization, a smaller proportion of boys report their experiences to authorities,” the report said.

It also pointed out a large increase in intimate partner violence incidents between 2014 and 2022 for people between the ages of 25 to 64 (up 32 per cent) and people over the age of 65 (up 42 per cent).

Click to play video: 'Ex-partner of Saskatchewan mass murderer shares story of abuse, survival, and hope'

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Ex-partner of Saskatchewan mass murderer shares story of abuse, survival, and hope

That being said, eight out of 10 victims who reported intimate partner violence in 2022 were women and girls.

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Cara Bahr, CEO of YWCA Saskatoon, said in September that they had to turn away 4,253 women, children and youth in 2022 due to the shelter being at full capacity.

The YWCAs in Saskatoon and Regina have been working to expand their facilities to work with more women and families facing abuse.

Bahr said it takes an average of seven to eight times for a woman to leave her abuser.

More to come.

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or is involved in an abusive situation, please visit the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime for help. They are also reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

FSIN claims income assistance being withheld from First Nations citizens

Global News Regina

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November 21, 2023

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FSIN claims income assistance being withheld from First Nations citizens

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) said they are disgusted with the Saskatchewan and federal governments as they are withholding income assistance from First Nations citizens.

“The federal government says they are merely following the province by withholding income assistance from First Nations who receive more than $15,000 for per capita distributions from their Nations,” Vice-Chief Edward Dutch Lerat said.

The group said assistance is being withheld from First Nations citizens who receive per capita distributions from specific claims of more than $15,000.

The provincial government confirmed the $15,000 cap in an email statement.

“The ministry currently exempts Per Capita Distribution payments for First Nations members receiving SIS and SAID benefits, up to $15,000 per member, per settlement,” read the statement.

The FSIN said that the provincial policy affects off-reserve band members while federal policy restricts those living on reserve.

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In a media release, the FSIN said distribution payments are “the recognition of and compensation for the harm done, historical grievances, pain, and suffering caused by breaches of the promises made under Treaty.”

It said that the payments are an avenue to honour treaties with the Crown, fulfill the spirit and intent of treaties, and advance reconciliation.

“We don’t know if any consultation was carried out on this issue, which is incredibly troublesome when the purpose of specific claims is to address historic breaches of our Treaties intended to right past wrongs and renew relationships,” Lerat said.

Chief Calvin Sanderson said the province isn’t providing First Nations people with enough money as it is, saying assistance isn’t keeping up with inflation.

He also noted the housing crisis happening on First Nations’ land.

“If we had the capacity to build our own houses in our communities, we would bring our people back home to live there,” Sanderson said. “The province and the government have to stop dictating us. We are here for our membership.”

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said the benefit of redress is reduced in favour of Canada and the province.

“It is shameful and unconscionable that those disproportionately benefitted from Treaty are attempting to claw back this court-ordered redress intended to right past wrongs.”

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He called on both governments to sit down with the FSIN and First Nations leadership moving forward.

The province told Global News it has been in communication with the FSIN and that the Ministry of Social Services will be reviewing the policy.

“The Government of Saskatchewan recently sent a letter to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations indicating the Ministry of Social Services is reviewing its policy on Per Capita Distribution payments for First Nations members receiving SIS and SAID benefits and welcomes conversation and feedback with First Nations leadership.”

Global News has reached out to the federal government for comment.

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

‘I don’t believe that I’m alive right now’: Canadian recounts perilous journey from Gaza to Egypt

CBC News SK

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November 21, 2023

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‘I don’t believe that I’m alive right now’: Canadian recounts perilous journey from Gaza to Egypt

After a perilous journey from northern Gaza to Egypt, which included a five-kilometre walk on foot with his hands up as missiles exploded around him, Akram Al-Sabbagh was welcomed by his relieved family at Toronto Pearson International Airport Tuesday morning.

Tears flowed from Al-Sabbagh’s son, Mohammed, his daughter, Samah, and her four children as they rushed to embrace the weary 73-year-old after he arrived from Cairo.

“I’m so happy to see my … [family]. I’m back to my country and back again for good,” Akram told reporters.

‘Huge, huge relief’

Samah said they had been waiting so long for this day.

“It’s a huge, huge relief,” she said.

Akram, a London, Ont., resident and Canadian citizen for over 30 years, was visiting family in Gaza when Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing an estimated 1,200 people and taking roughly 240 others back into Gaza as hostages.

The massacre prompted Israel to declare war on Hamas, and it has responded with repeated air and land strikes on Gaza. Gaza’s Hamas-run government said at least 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 5,600 children and 3,550 women.

WATCH | Man reunites with his family at Toronto’s Pearson Airport:

73-year-old who walked north to south in Gaza returns to Canada

Featured VideoA 73-year-old man who was first trapped in Gaza and then forced to walk from northern to southern Gaza to avoid Israeli airstrikes has reunited with his family at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

No Canadians were added Tuesday to a list of foreign nationals approved to cross into Egypt from the territory, where Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says about 200 people with ties to Canada are still waiting for a chance to get out, The Canadian Press reported.

Ottawa says more than 450 Canadians, permanent residents and their relatives have made the trip out of the Palestinian territory since the conflict began.

“No area [is] safe over there, anywhere in Gaza,” Akram said.

He expressed some surprise that he was experiencing a reunion with his family, as he was unsure about whether he was going to make it out of the region.

Akram Al-Sabbagh says no area is safe in Gaza. — Al-Sabbagh says no area is safe in Gaza. (Mark Gollom/CBC)

“I don’t believe that I’m alive right now,” he said.

“I told my wife on the phone, ‘OK, I want to tell you what to do after I’ve died.’ I didn’t believe I’d come back.”

Akram reached the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Friday night after a harrowing trip out of northern Gaza and south to the border.

Akram said he was rejected five times at the border, until he was finally allowed through on Sunday after waiting two nights for the border to reopen to Canadians who had been approved to enter Egypt.

He said part of his journey to the border included a five-kilometre trek by foot while carrying his luggage and passport, which he held over his head as he walked.

He said that two missiles exploded just behind him, but that he had to keep walking, not stop, even if he dropped something.

“Can’t turn right, I can’t turn left. If you do, [they] shoot you right away,” he said.

“It’s too hard to find food, too hard to find water, too hard to find bread, too hard to find anything to eat. Nothing,” he said.

He said the border area itself was not safe, bombed twice while he was there.

Samah said while she’s relieved that her father is back, it’s a bittersweet moment.

“It’s happiness, but filled with sorrow, because as we speak, there are still so many people getting killed,” she said.

“We still have family there. We don’t even know anything about them. We haven’t been able to contact them at all.”

‘I don’t believe that I’m alive right now’: Canadian recounts perilous journey from Gaza to Egypt

CBC News SK

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November 21, 2023

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After a perilous journey from northern Gaza to Egypt, which included a five-kilometre walk on foot with his hands up as missiles exploded around him, Akram Al-Sabbagh was welcomed by his relieved family at Toronto Pearson International Airport Tuesday morning.

Tears flowed from Al-Sabbagh’s son, Mohammed, his daughter, Samah, and her four children as they rushed to embrace the weary 73-year-old after he arrived from Cairo.

“I’m so happy to see my … [family]. I’m back to my country and back again for good,” Akram told reporters.

‘Huge, huge relief’

Samah said they had been waiting so long for this day.

“It’s a huge, huge relief,” she said.

Akram, a London, Ont., resident and Canadian citizen for over 30 years, was visiting family in Gaza when Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing an estimated 1,200 people and taking roughly 240 others back into Gaza as hostages.

The massacre prompted Israel to declare war on Hamas, and it has responded with repeated air and land strikes on Gaza. Gaza’s Hamas-run government said at least 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 5,600 children and 3,550 women.

WATCH | Man reunites with his family at Toronto’s Pearson Airport:

Man reunited with family after ‘nightmare journey’ out of Gaza

Featured VideoAkram Al-Sabbagh was visiting family in Gaza when the Israel-Hamas war broke out on Oct. 7. After a perilous journey from northern Gaza to Egypt and then Toronto, the 73-year-old from London, Ont., said he ‘didn’t believe’ he would come back.